Patriots, not Dolphins, may end up being Taylor-made

DAVE HYDE Commentary

1. Explain why, no matter how much I like Jason Taylor, Brad will return to Jennifer before Taylor returns to the Dolphins.

2. Show how Taylor has a rather obvious, and enviable, landing spot in New England.

3. Decide how to feel about that.

Obviously, Nos. 1 and 2 seem easier than No. 3.

This all began with Taylor buying his way out of Washington last week. It wasn't portrayed that way. It was portrayed as Taylor refusing to join his teammates for offseason workouts (sound familiar?) to be with his family in South Florida. No doubt that was part of it.

But if Washington was a Super Bowl team, if Taylor was part of that blueprint, if he had a chance to close out his career in the way he wants, he wouldn't have opted for what in the real world is called an "amicable divorce," complete with the $8.5 million alimony he would have earned this season.

Taylor achieved what lots of veterans want: Free agency. You can understand why. You also can offer logical reasons why the Dolphins and Taylor could get together again, like the old flame you never forgot.

There's the roster reason: They have an opening with Vonnie Holliday gone. There's the strategic reason: They need every available pass rusher to cover for the young cornerbacks they'll draft. There's the talent reason: No matter what happened in Washington, Taylor is two years removed from being the Defensive Player of the Year.

But this idea still doesn't work when you walk around it. From the Dolphins' side, it's not just that they've moved on, though that's part of it. Taylor could have been a mainstay to the rebuilding if he had stayed.

Instead, he left for a good and understandable reason: He wanted to dance with Edyta Sliwinska (did you see Edyta moved on to another Taylor in Lawrence, suggesting she's becoming to football on Dancing With The Stars what Alyssa Milano is to baseball on the dating circuit).

Even without the drama and behind-the-scene angst, the football storyline between Taylor and the Dolphins hasn't changed much.

He's still near the end, at 35 next kickoff, and wanting to win. The Dolphins had a season beyond their dreams but don't pretend the rebuilding is done.

Enter New England. They have a history of signing aging stars (Rodney Harrison, Junior Seau, Fred Taylor ...). Patriots coach Bill Belichick openly respected Taylor in their Dolphins meetings, as did Brady, for the simple reason Taylor was one of the few opponents to treat the quarterback like a throw pillow.

Taylor even has the blessing of Belichick's crony in crustiness, former Dolphins coach Nick Saban. Remember Saban's line on Taylor?

"If he played in this defense his whole career, he'd be in the Hall of Fame."

Right there are two reasons why this marriage works for Taylor. The first part, the obvious part, is New England again will be a top contender, assuming Brady returns to form. But this defensive system is one Taylor already starred in, which is key in free agency.

The Hall of Fame, too, is one of the toppings Taylor could achieve in New England. He's a borderline case now, often compared to expected shoo-in Michael Strahan. The Giants' defensive end had seven Pro Bowls and 141.5 sacks. Taylor has six Pro Bowls and 120.5 sacks.

One more good season blurs any difference. But Strahan has a Super Bowl ring and a lot of playoff wins. Taylor? He has one wild-card win and, uh, the second place with Edyta. Not his fault. But them's the facts.

How would you feel about Taylor lining up a Patriot?

Better yet: Do you feel anything at all?

A year ago, the issue would have been more heated than an island volcano.

That was before Tony Sparano had won a game, before Jeff Ireland drafted anyone, before Chad Pennington was found, long before Bill Parcells had put any direction on this team, other than it was a new one.

Now that the Dolphins are making a future, their fans look toward that. Taylor is the past. He'll always be one of the Dolphins' greats, a pro, a star, the brightest name of the franchise's darkest time.

But the Dolphins need to be finding the next Jason Taylor. The current one is a better fit in New England, though twice next season you might think otherwise.